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Turf Alternative Plot
Gardeners hoping for sustainable ground covers will learn about nine different kinds of ground covers/grasses that take little water or mowing and are disease resistant and amenable to foot traffic. And they look good, too.
The ground covers are planted in 3 different blocks, which are on three different irrigation schedules. Many of these grasses may be mowed to resemble lawn or left unmown for easy care. Five of these lawn replacements are native to California and four are chosen from other Mediterranean climate regions. All provide attractive alternatives to a conventional lawn. Fall is the best time to plant these new ground covers.
Click on the links below for more ideas:
UC Center for Landscape and Urban Horticulture
http://ucanr.edu/sites/UrbanHort/Water_Use_of_Turfgrass_and_Landscape_Plant_Materials/
UC Verde Buffalograss information
http://ccuh.ucdavis.edu/industry/ucverde
UC Cooperative Extension Presentation on “Alternative Turf Species for Reducing Water Use and Mowing” Includes study of UC Verde Buffalo grass
http://cesacramento.ucdavis.edu/files/77830.pdf
Water Conservation Tips for the Home Lawn and Garden
http://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/pdf/8036.pdf
Grass Removal Methods
http://ucanr.edu/sites/scmg/Lawn_Replacement/Grass_Removal_Methods/
Here's what the garden looked like in the past:
April 2011:
August 2011:
May 2016:
September 2017:
